Preview of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: Holi Cross vs. UT Martin on Thursday Night
Iowa City, Iowa Holi Cross and UT Martin will play in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament first round on Thursday night at Iowa City, Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
How to Watch: Attend the inaugural game between the Skyhawks and Crusaders in Iowa City. At 9:00 p.m., coverage begins.
Watch ESPN2 to hear Stephanie White and Beth Mowins talk.
Concerning Holi Cross:
– Holi Cross qualified for the tournament for the second year in a row after defeating Boston University in the 2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championship game.
– In her fourth season leading the program, head coach Maureen Magarity won her second Patriot League championship.
– Holi Cross is the first women’s basketball champion to win the league’s championship three times in a row since Navy (2011–2013).
– After winning nine straight games in December 2023, the Crusaders have a winning streak of four games going into the tournament, which is their second-longest stretch of the year.
– The Patriot League Championship MVP, senior guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy, who averages 16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, is the cornerstone of their leadership.
In the NCAA Tournament, Holi Cross:
– Holi Cross has a 1-12 record going into the 14th NCAA Tournament. In 1991, the Crusaders emerged victorious from the NCAA Tournament, defeating #6 Maryland 81-74 to record the only ever Patriot League Women’s Basketball Tournament victory. As the #15 seed in the first round last year, the Crusaders lost 93-61 to #2 Maryland.
Concerning UT Martin:
UT Martin defeated Southern Indiana in the Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Championship, despite their advancement. They lost to #12 North Carolina 60-58 in their 2014 NCAA Tournament debut. The tournament bid farewell to them after that final appearance.
– The Skyhawks’ 97.5% aggressive production comes from their freshmen and sophomores, led by guard Kenlee McCarn, a freshman, who leads the team in scoring and rebounds per game with 16.7 points and 4.5 boards.
– Anaya Brown, a sophomore forward, averages 8.9 rebounds and 15.1 points per game.
Concerning the Patriot League:
For the past ten years, the Patriot League has stood for both academic and athletic excellence, proving time and time again that scholar-athletes can achieve success in both areas without sacrificing moral principles. The league’s member institutions made a commitment to admitting and graduating scholar-athletes, who are the real ambassadors of their classrooms, and this led to the league’s athletic success. At Patriot League schools, involvement in athletics is regarded as essential to a well-rounded education.
